Folding machine



Jan. 29, 1952 Filed Sept. 11, 1946 A. F. SHIELDS FOLDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ALBERT F. SH/ELDS dwiia A TTORNE VS Jan. 29, 1952 Filed Sept. 11, 1946 A. F. SHIELDS 2,583,712

FOLDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. ALBERT F. SH/ELDS A TTORNE VS Jan. 29, 1952 A. F. SHIELDS FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ALBERT F. SH/ELDS ATTORNEYS Jan. 29, 1952 A. F. SHIELDS 2,583,712

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ALBERT F. SH/ELDS BY WWZLM ATTORNEYS Jan. 29, 1952 A. F. SHIELDS 2,583,712

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 v 'IJIIIQMVIIIIIII/ J I. x

6: MIMMMI i INVENTOR. ALBERT F. SH/EL OS A T TORNE VS Jan. 29, 1952 A. F. SHIELDS 2, 7

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1946 6 She ets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. ALBERT F. SH/ELDS Patented Jan. 29, 1952 FOLDING MACHINE Albert F. Shields, Forest Hills, N. Y., assignor to S & S Corrugated Paper Machinery Co. Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 11, 1946, Serial No. 696,085

11 Claims;

My present invention relates to folding ma chines and more particularly to a folding machine of the type generally shown in my prior Patent 2,336,507, wherein large size corrugated board or other paper blanks are to be passed from a stack through various folding elements and delivered to a tape applying mechanism.

In the making of cartons, it is necessary first to crease and slot the blanks in order properly to prepare them for the folding operation. Heretofore and prior. to the advent of a specific folding machine for operating rapidly on blanks, it has been customary to fold these blanks manually and feed them into the taping machine. The folding operation for an ordinary square tubular box comprises bending over the two outer panels on the score lines so that the edges of the panels meet to form a collapsed tube. The maximum speed which can be expected from manual folding is of the order of from to 30 blanks per minute. In addition, Where the blanks have been incorrectly creased or scored prior to folding, it becomes necessary for the operator when bringing the edges of the folded panel together to twist the panels around the crease and adjust and reform the crease in order that the tube may be squared properly. This operation is very time consuming when performed manually; also the operator tends readily to place aside and discard blanks the panels of which are visibly askew, thus leading to a great deal of Waste and additional operations.

My novel machine has for its primary purpose the rapid folding and delivering of the blanks at a rate ranging upward from 120 a minute to as high as 180 blanks per minute and even higher.

My novel device also embodies elements which will straighten and reform the crease in any blank in which the panels when folded are askew without slowing the rate of folding in any way.

Primarily my present invention is directed toward improvements in the device shown in my Patent 2,336,597 which improvements were invented in order to increase the folding rate of my machine, also to increase the range of the machine with regard to sheet sizes and materials to improve the reliability of operation and also to shorten the set-up time. These improvements include a stacking arrangement which will permit delivery of warped blanks to the folding apparatus, also where the side gages are automatically positioned when the folding width is set; prefolding elements which will start the panels to be folded around their bend line just prior to the point where the blanks reach the folding plates, improved plates which are curved to extend the prefolding action; improved stop means which act on the unfolded portion of the blank for holding the blanks in proper position during folding; improved re-creasing means to re-form the creases in blanks, the panels of which would otherwise be askew; improved means for adjusting the machine to various sizes and arrangements of the blanks; and improved means for simplifying and integrating the drives for the various elements of the machine so that each operation will take place at the proper instant.

Also, my novel machine includes added means to ensure bringing the blanks up to the stop under all conditions and preventing rebound; stripping means to ensure that the folded blanks clear the retracted stop; folding bar limiting rolls to limit deflection of the folding bars and guide the folded blank into the straightening section.

The foregoing and many other objects of my invention will become apparent in the following description and drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my novel improved folding machine.

Figure 2 is a side view of machine-of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view partly in cross-section corresponding to the side view of Figure 2 taken on line 3--3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is an enlarged side view showing the stacking and feeding arrangement for the blanks to be folded.

Figure 5 is an end view of my novel machine taken from line 5-5 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a view partly in cross-section of the front gauge of the stacking device taken from line B--6 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the manner in which the blank enters the region of the folding plates.

Figure 8 is, a cross-sectional view taken on line 8B of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 is an enlarged top plan view showing the arrangement of the pre-folding means for preparing the panels of the blanks for folding by the folding prints of my invention.

Figure 10 is a side view of the pre-folding means of Figure 9 taken from line Iii-l0 of Figure 9 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 is an end view of the pre-folding means and stop devicetaken from line llll of Figure 10 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 12 is a side view partly broken away the novel folding taken on line l2-l2 of Figure 1 showing the means for operating the stop device out of stopping position after the blank has been folded.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a stack of blanks is placed on the bed 22 of the stacking section 2i of the machine between the rear gauge 23 and the front gauge 25; The bottom blank in the stack is fed toward the right by the feed slat 21 through the spaces 30, 33 (Figure 6) between the front gauges 25, 25 and the bar 3! on which the stack is placed. The spaces 33 are adjusted so that they are just high enough to permit one of the blanks 2B topass through while holding back the remainder of the stack. The,

blank passing through the spaces passes over the bar 3! and the idling roller 32, the function of which is hereinafter described, and thenis pushed by the feed slat 2'! between the upper andlower feed rolls 35 and. 36 respectively (Fi ure 3).. Feed rolls 3'5 and 36 engage the blank and carry it forward to, the, upper and lower feed 43. This adjustment is hereinafter described 1 connection with thev adjustment of frame332.

The blanks. are then fed by the feed rolls and. 33 between'the' upper and lower feed rolls 4], 42. Upper feeclroll 4! actually consists of two feed rolls-Ma and Nb: occupying the same position respectively as feed rolls 31a and 3'fb'as shown in Figure l andsimultaneously adjustable with said feed rolls. 7 This adjustment is also hereinafmr described in connection with the ad justment of frame. 332. The. feed roll 42 on the underside is a single roll extending entirely across the machine and is rotatablymounted between the levers 43 which in turn arerotatably. mounted on the pins, 44 on opposite sides of the machine carried on lugs of the cross-bracket 45.. The lower end of cross-bracket 45has secured thereto arm 46 having an opening. through whichthe spring actuated guide rod 41 passes (all of the foregoing may readily be seen in Figure 3). Compression, spring 48 around. the guide rod 41 bears between washer. 49. on the underside of lever 43 and washer 50' on the upper side of arm 4'6 and thus biases lever arm 43 upwardly to bias the idling roll of 42 upwardly to tightly press the blank against the upper feed roll 4 l.

The maximum lift of lever 43 and. thus the maximum rise, of idling roll of 42 may be controlled by the adjustable nuts 5! on thelowerend of the guide rod 41.

4 forward until its front edge engages the stops 73a mounted on stop bars 13. The forward progress of the blank is thus arrested while the feed rolls 53 continue to rotate and press the blank against the stops 13a. 7

While. the blank is in this position with its forward edge against. the two stops 13a, the creases or scores on which the fold is to take place are in register with the outer sides of the folding bars are-each held on their respective cross arms 6i are The blank is then carried under the. foldin of the arms 54 has an extension 56 on the oppobars 13 which move down with the bracket 15 site side of the shaft 55 connected to tension spring 51, which in turn is connected, to a stationary lug 58 (Figures3 and 10). The spring 5? biases the feed rolls 53 upwardly to engage and drive the blank. The'feed rolls 53 engage the blank on each side by pressing it up against the foldingbars 39 and 40 and thus'carry the'blank driven around to fold the blank. Each of the cross arms 6| which supports its folding plate 33 is. driven by link 62. which connects it to the crank 53,.which in turn is driven from the folding blank operating box 64. The drive for folding plate 53 is thus substantially the same as described in .my prior Patent 2,336,507.

The folding plate 50 is driven around by the mechanism thus described to fold the side panels of the blank around the folding bars 33 and 43 and'to fold them down fiat upon the remainder of the blank. The folding operation is facilitated first by reason of the fact that the folding plates 56 and BI are downwardly bent at 61? in order that the side panels of the blank may readily ride up thereon. Also, the folding operation is further facilitated by means of the deflecting plate 1 3' on each side (seen specifically in Figures 9 to 11) each of which terminate in an angularly positioned roller I! so that'the side panels are folded up of the order of 25 between plate "it! and roller H on each side even before. the blank reaches the folding position. The side panels are thus given. an initial angularity with respect to the moving blankso that the folding plates need not rotate'the side panels through a full 180' but must as shown by an examination of Figure ll rotate through approximately only 150.

The stop bars 13 are as shown in Figure 10f supported by the. bracket arm 15 which int-urn is pivotally supported on the fixed shaft 16 on each side..

The stop bar 13 on eachside has a downward extension 18, the lower end of which is connected by eye bolt 19 to the tension spring 83,.which in turn is connected to the lug, 8i. secured to the U-shaped members 220. which are carried by and fixed to the width between the, folding boxes and adjusted with them. Accordingly, the stop bar 13 on each side is, maintained in raised position by tension spring 80. The U members 22a serve to support the. blank while in the folding section and then'also serve to strip the folded blank from the stop when it retracts.

The two. downward extensions 18 on each side of, the machine eachcarries a roller 84 which is engaged by the lever bar 8521 on the levers 85' on shaft 86. After the folding operation has been completed, the shaft 86 is rotated counterclockwise with respect to'Figure 10 to rotate the lever. 35 counterclockwise and push down the rollers 3 1 of' extensions 18. This pushes down the stop which in turn rotates about the shaft It. This in turn pulls down the stops 13a on each side and thus removes the stop members from the leading edge ofthe blank.

The machine; is so arranged and timed that as soon'as' the stops 13w are depressedby the action of lever 85, slat 99 mounted across the chains 9| moves up into engagement with the;

rear of the folded blank and moves the blank beneath the.hold-down strip 92 which strip is adjustably supported by feed screw 93 operated by knurled knob 94 on the cross bar 95. The hold-down strip 92 is adjusted so that it extends just in front of the stops 13a. The front end is curved upwardly at 92a so that panels which tend to spring up after being folded will be guided down again and their edges brought to abutting position. As soon as the slat 99 on chains 9| engages and moves it forward further through.

the machine, the guide'presses down on the same between the panels and preventsthe folded blank from opening up.

The blank is then carried forward between the tively each of the folding bars 39 and 49 limit the upward and downward movement of the free ends of the folding bars 39 and 49 so that they will not be flexed to too great an extent. These rollers also serve, in addition to controlling the position of the free ends of the folding bars 39 and 49, to control the blank and hold it in a somewhat central position so that the edges of the blank will be properly engaged by the straightening rolls II 9.

The straightening rolls H9 are each mounted on stub shafts (not shown) which in turn are supported on the adjustable plates H2, H2. Straightening rolls 9 on each side are aligned witheach other and are provided with grooves as shown in Figure 3 adapted to receive the folded edge of the blank. The plates H2, H2 are adjusted so that the peripheries of the aligned rollers II9 on each side are spaced apart by-a distance which is slightly less than the width of the folded blank. The slat 90 forces the blank between the rolls II9 with the edges of the blank riding in the annular grooves on each side. Since the rolls are thus spaced slightly closer together than the width of the blank the crease or fold is adjusted and spread vertically.

The movement of the slat which maintains the rear edge of the blank normal to its direction of travel holds the blank at the correct angles with respect to the rolls II9, so that in a properly folded blank the crease is adjusted regularly on each side. Where the score line was initially incorrect or where the panel was folded improperly, the score lines are adjusted and straightened so that recreasing rolls I29 may then recrease or press the fold properly. The rolls II9 adjust and spread the crease to a greater width at that portion of the blank which has been widenedby the skewed folding. As the blank leaves the crease adjusting rolls II9, it passes between the pressure rolls I29, I29 on each side of the machine which recreases the blanks as the blanks are delivered. Since the blank is maintained with its side edges exactly parallel to its path of movement by the slat 99, the recreasing operation-performed by recreasing rolls I29 forms the crease in exactly the right position. l have found that-panels which have skewed so that the trailing or leading edge of the panel projects over the ende'dge of the main body of the box by more than a quarter of an inch have been straightened and properly recreased by this operation. Blanks which had been improperly scored, so that when folded up the panel would be skewed, have been corrected and straightened .during the passage through the folding machine.

My machine, therefore, reduces the waste of blanks and makes it possible to utilize blanks even though they have been improperly or carelessly creased or scored.

This type of recreasing operation has also been described in my prior Patent 2,336,507 wherein several spaced crease adjusting rolls are shown on each side. While spaced crease adjusting rolls have been able properly to recrease and correct skewed blanks, I have found that by placing the crease adjusting rolls II9 in closely spaced relation as shown in Figures 1 and 3, a greater degree of skew may be corrected.

The hold-down is adjusted forward and back in support 94 (Figure '1) by loosening the screw 93a and sliding the slat back and forth; and is adjusted up and down by screw 93. Each of the said slats 99 mounted across the chains 9I has a recess I39 so that it may readily slide or move on eitherside of the hold-down slat 92.

The folded blanks are preferably delivered to a taping machine and the bar I290. serves to hold down the panels of the folded blank right up to the point of tape application. Side guides I49a are provided to guide the blanks into the straightening section without marring th front corners of the box.

The apparatus comprises, as previously pointed out, a number of improved elements, each of which cooperate with each other and with the entire machine in order to provide for increased speed and facility of operation.

Referring to Figure 5, a variable speed D. C,

which carries sprocket I54 of Figure l. Sprocket I54 provides power to pull the chains 9|. Chains 9I are in turn held by idler sprockets I55 on shaft I56 (Figures 1 and 3). Idler sprocket I51 (Figure 3) is adjustably mounted to tighten the chains. Shaft I53 also holds sprocket I69 which in turn drives sprockets I 6|, I62 and IE3. thus driving the lower delivery shaft MI and the upper; delivery shaft I49 and the taper cam shaft I6 Referring to Figure 1, the end of shaft I53 holds a bevel gear I19 which drives bevel gear IN on shaft I12. Bevel gear I13 on shaft I12 (also in Figure 12) drives bevel gear I14 on stud I15 and so drives drop-oft cam I191 which is mounted on bevel gear I14. Roller I11 on arm I18 engages the periphery of cam I19; thus an oscillatory motion is imparted to lever I19 and to shaft 89 on which it is mounted; the shaft 99 as mentioned before serves to retract the stop 13a. Set screw I99 held in housing I8I engages an arm of lever I19 and serves to limit the angular motion ofthe lever I19 and also of the shaft 86.

Referring back to Figure 1, the shaft I12 is connected to shaft 299 by means of the coupling 29I', .Bevel gear 292 on shaft 299 drives bevel gear 293 on shaft 294 which providespower to both of the folding boxes 64. Bevel gear 295 on shaftg299. drives bevel gear 2 9 9 on shaft 291 and 7' thus turns thespur gear 208 which also is keyed to shaft 2111.

Referring to Figure 2, gear 208 meshes with gears 209, 2H] and 2H and thus drives gears 220', 22l and 222. Gear 222 drives gear 223. It

can be seen that by means of this gearing the feed rolls 35, 35', 31, 38 and 4| are all driven.- Also that rolls 35 and 33- are pivotally held on the centers of gears 223 and 22I respectively so that these feed rolls when spring biased will adjust themselves to any thickness of blank.

Referring back to Figure 1, gear 230 on shaft 2% drives gear 23I whichholds bevel gear 232.

Bevel gear 232 drives bevel gear 233 on the kicker drive shaft 232.-

Referring to Figure 4, the crank 235 which is keyed to 234 drives link 235 which in turn drives crank 23? and link 238-. Link 233 is a pin-connected link which transfers the variable rotary motion of pin 239 on link 231'to a. variable recip rocating motion of pin 24!! on kicker carriage 24L Carriage 24| carries'the kicker bar 242 in such a manner that the bar is adjustable relatively to the carriage by means of the T-shaped' member asaand the screw 26% (see- Figure 8). lhe spring kickers 21 are mounted on the kicker bar 242 in order to obtain adjustment for warped blanks.

All members which engage the edges of the blank are provided with nuts which in turn are driven by screws all of which are driven from a common source on each side of the machine in order to adjust the machine for different widths of blanks. a

The motor 300 in Figure 2' drives. the shaft 33| through a worm gear reduction3'B2; Shaft'33l holds a sprocket 303 (Figure l)- which engages a chain 304 which passes'over sprockets 305, 306 and 301. Sprockets 305,, 306 and 30"! drive screws-309 of Figure and 308 and 3H] of Figure 1 respectively and these in turn serve to adjust the straightening roll bracket H2, the stop and deflector assembly of'Figure 1-0, and the molding box 54 of Figure 1 respectively. At the other end of shaft is a sprocket 323 which by means of chain 321 drives sprockets 322 and 323. Sprocket 324 is an idler for the purpose of tightening chain 32 I.

Referring to Figure 6, sprocket 322 is keyed to screw 343 on' each side which engages nut 33a of Figure I mounted on frame 325. Frame 325 holds the-side gauge 326 shown also in Figures 2 and 6. Sprocket 323 is keyed to screw 330 which engages nut 33l on frame 332 shown on Figures 1 and 3. Frame 332 serves to hold front gauge 25 and also the folding guide bar 39. Since the sprocket 322 contains half as many teeth as the sprocket 323 and since their respective screws 3 3 and 330 have the same lead, the frame 325 which "holds the side gauge 326 will be moved twice as far as the frame 332 for a given movement of the chain 321 and of the sprocket 3253. The frames 325 and 332 are supported on bars 35i and 352 in Figure 3.v These bars are held at both ends by the brackets 353 and 35 (Figure 6) which are mounted on hous ings 35 5 and 356 respectively. The side and front gauges on each side are thus simultaneously adjusted.

Referring to Figure 10 in a similar manner, the carriage 3I2 is mounted on the two bars 16 and 363 which are in turn. supported in the side frames of the'machine.

In the foregoing I have described my invention only in connection with an illustrative em- 8, bodiment thereof. and variations of my invention will now be an parent to those skilled in the art, I prefer to be bound not by the specific descriptions herein but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanks from flat. and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about said scorev lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; stop members mounted on said machine, means for moving said blanks successively against said stop members; means for folding over the side sections; said folding means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed folding plates, meansfor rotating said plates about an axis parallel to the score lines defining said longitudinally extending side sections, said plates being rotatable and engaging the side sections during rotation, and rotating said side sections into face to face relation with the body of the blank; the ends of the folding: plates first engaged by the blank as it moves from the machine being curvedaway from the folding direction to permit said,v blank to move intoregistry with the folding plates while the main body of each of the folding plates is still in'the path of movement of the blank, said curved portions of the folding plates deflecting the extending side sections of the blank in the direction of folding to permit said blank to move collapsed tubular arrangement; means for foldr.

ing over the side sections; said folding means comprising a'pair of oppositely disposedfolding plates, means for rotating said plates about an axis parallel to the score lines defining, said longitudinally extending side sections, said plates being rotatable and engaging the side sections during rotation, and rotating said side sections into face tov face relation with the body ofv the blank; the ends of the folding plates first engaged bythe blank as it. moves from the machinebeing curved away from the folding direction to permit said blank to move into registry with the folding plates while the mainsbody of each of the folding plates is still in the path of movement of the blank, said curved portions of the folding plates deflecting thev extending side sections of theblank in the direction of foldin to permit said blank to moveinto position to be folded. v V p 3. Inv a folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanks from flat and scored sheets; said sheets having a pair of longitudi nall-y extending side sections defined by score linesv and foldable about said: score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; stop members mounted on said machine; means for moving said blanks. successively against said. stop members, means for folding over the side sections, said folding meanscomprising a pair of oppositely disposed folding plates, means. for rotating said plates about an axis parallel to the score lines defining said longitudinally extending side sections, said plates being rotatable and engaging the-side sections during rotation, and rotating said side sections intoface to face relation with the body "of the blank; 9; pair of Since many modifications.

lapsed tubular arrangement;

underlying the folding bars, said blank passing between said longitudinal bars and the folding bars; a pair of horizontal parallel plates on each side of the machine, each of said longitudinal bars carrying the stop members riding between a pair of said parallel plates, the upper edges of said parallel plates on each side serving as the support for the blank while it is moved against the stop, said longitudinal members when they are lowered to remove the stop from the path of the blank moving down between the said plates and forcing the leading edge of the blank off the stop as the stop moves down with the longitudinal bars.

4. In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanks from flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; stop members mounted on said machine; means for moving said blanks successively against said stop mem bers, means for folding over the side sections, said folding means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed folding plates, means for rotating said plates about an axis parallel to the score lines defining said longitudinally extending side sections, said plates being rotatable and engaging the side sections during rotation, and rotating said side sections into face to face relation with the body of the blank; a pair of folding bars extending in the direction of movement of the blank, the outer edges of the folding bars cow inciding substantially with the score lines be tween the main body of the blank and the extending side sections; pivotally mounted longitudinal bars, said stop members being mounted on said longitudinal bars, said longitudinal bars underlying the folding bars, said blank passing between said longitudinal bars and the folding bars, the stop members carried by said longitudinal bars being arranged to abut against the portion of the blank between the score lines and also engaging the folding bars to prevent the blank from forcing itself over the stop members, and means for removing the blank from the stops as the stops are lowered.

5. In a folding machine for forming fiat collapsed tubular box blanks from flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score, lines and foldable about said score lines into said colstop members mounted on said machine; means for moving said blanks successively against said stop members, means for folding over the side sections, said folding means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed folding plates, means for rotating said plates about an axis parallel to the score lines defining said longitudinally extending side sections, said plates being rotatable and engaging the side sections during rotating, and rotating said side sections into face to face relation with the body of the blank; a pair of folding bars extending in the direction of movement of the blank, the outer edges of the folding bars coinciding substantially with the score lines between the main body of the blank and the extending side sections; pivotaliy mounted longi tudinal bars, said stop members being mounted on said longitudinal bars, said longitudinal bars underlying the folding bars, said blank passing between said longitudinal bars and the folding bars, a longitudinally extending vertical plate on each side of the machine, each of said longitudinal bars carrying the stop members riding adjacent a vertical plate, the upper edge of said plate on-each side serving as the support" for the blank while it is moved'against the stop, said longitudinal members when they are lowered to remove the stop from the path of the blank moving down adjacent the said plate and forcing the leading edge of the blank off the stop as the stop moves down with thelongitudina bars;

6, In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanks from flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a'pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; stop members mounted on said machine; means for moving said blanks successively against said stop members, means for folding over the side sections, said folding means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed folding plates, means for rotating said plates about an axis parallel to the score lines defining said longitudinally extending side sections, said plates being rotatable and engaging the side sections during rotation, and

rotating said side sections into face to face relation with the body of the blank; a pair of folding bars extending in the direction of movement of the blank, the outer edges of the folding bars coinciding substantially with the score lines be tween the main body of the blank and the extending side sections; pivotally mounted longitudinal bars, said stop members being mounted on said longitudinal bars, said longitudinal bars underlying the folding bars, said blank: passing between said longitudinal bars and the folding bars; and a feed roll beneath the folding bars and biased upwardly toward the folding bars.

'7. In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanks from flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines and foldable aboutsaid score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement: stop members mounted on said machine; means'for moving said blanks successively against said stop memhers, means for folding over the'side sections, said folding means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed folding plates,means for rotating said plates about an axis parallel to the score lines defining said longitudinally extending side sections, said plates being rotatable and enaging the side sections during rotation, and rotating said side sections into face to face'relation with the body of the blank; a pair of foldin bars extending in the direction of movement of the blank, the outer edges "of the folding bars coinciding substantially with the score lines be'- tween. the main body of the blank and the extending side sections: said stop members being mounted on longitudinal bars, said longitudinal bars underl ing the folding bars, said blank passing between said longitudinal barsand the folding bars: a aratus for successively feeding the bottom sheet in a plane parallel to the said sheet from a stack of said sheets into'the folding ap aratus; a platform for supporting the stack of sheets, side guides for defining the stack of sheets and front guides for maintaining the stack of sheetsin position, said front guides extending vertically above the said platform; a space between the lower ends of the front guides and the platform equal to slightly more than the thickness of one sheet; means in said feeding device adapted to feed out such sheets when such sheets extend in a perfect planeand when such sheets are warped.

r 8. In a folding machine for forming fiat 001- oppositely disposed folding plates, means for rotating said plates about an axis parallel to the score lines defining said longitudinally extending' side sections, said plates being rotatable and engaging the side sections during rotation, and rotating said side sections into face to face relation with the body of the blank; a pair of fold ing bars extending in the direction of movement of the blank, the outer edges of the folding bars coinciding substantially with the score lines between the main body of the blank and the extendingside sections; said stop members being mounted on longitudinal bars, said longitudinal bars underlying the folding bars, said blank passing between said longitudinal bars and the folding bars; apparatus for successively feeding the bottom sheet in a plane parallel to the said sheet from a stack of said sheets into the folding apparatus; a platform for supporting-the stack of sheets, sideguides for defining the stack of sheets and front guides for maintaining the stack of sheets in position, said'front guides extending vertically above the said platform; a space between the lower ends of the front guides and the platform equal to slightly more than the thickness of one sheet; means in said feeding device adapted to feed out such sheets when such sheets extend in a perfect plane and when suchsheets are warped; an adjustable mounting bracket, the front guides for the sheet feeding apparatus and the folding bars being sup Ported on said bracket.

9.In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanks from flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; stop members mounted on said machine; means for moving said blanks successively against said stop members, means for folding over the side sections, said folding means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed folding plates, means for rotating'said plates about an axis parallel to the score lines defining said longitudinally extending side sections, said plates being rotatable and engaging the side sections during rotation, and rotating said side sections into face to face relation with the body of the blank: a pair of folding bars extending in the direction of movement of the blank, the outer edges of the folding bars coinciding substantially with the score lines between the main body of the blank and the extending side sections; said stop members being mounted on longitudinal bars, said longitudinal bars underlying the folding bars, said blank passing between said longitudilld bars and the folding bars; apparatus for succesthe folding apparatus; a platform for supporting the stack of sheets, side guides for defining the stack of sheets and front guides for maintaining the stack of sheets in position, said front guides extending vertically above the said platform; a space between the lower ends of the front guides and the platform equal to slightly more than the thickness of one sheet; means in said feeding device adapted to feed out such sheets when such sheets extend in a perfect plane and when such 7 sheets are warped, the side guides for the sheet feeding apparatus, the folding bars and the folding plates being simultaneously adjustable to blanks of different sizes. v

10. In a folding machine for forming fiat collapsed tubularrbox blanks from flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; stop members mounted on said machine; means for moving said blanks successively against said stop members, means for folding over the side sections, said folding means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed folding plates, means for rotating said plates about an axis parallel to the score lines defining said longitudinally extending side sections, said plates being rotatable and engaging the side sections during rotation, and rotating said side sections into face to face relation with the body of the blankfa pair of folding bars extending in the direction of movement of the blank, the outer edges of the folding bars coinciding substantially with the score lines between the main body of v the blank and the extending side sections; said stop members being mounted on longitudinal bars, said longitudinal bars underlying the folding bars, said blank passing between said longi tudinal bars and the folding bars; apparatus for successively feeding the bottom sheet in a plane parallel to the said sheet from astack of said sheets into the folding apparatus; a platform for supporting the stack ofsheets, side guides for defining the stack of sheets and front guides for maintaining the stack of sheets in position, said front guides extending vertically above the said platform; a space between the lower ends of the front guides and the platform equal to slightly more than the thickness of onesheet; means in said feeding device adapted to feed out such sheets when such sheets extend in a perfect plane and when such sheets are warped ;'means for simultaneously adjusting all of the elements of the sheet feeding apparatus and the folding apparatus to sheets of different sizes.

11. In a folding machine for forming flat colextending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; stop members mounted on said machine, means for moving said blanks suc- V cessively against said stop members; means for folding over the side sections; said folding means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed folding plates, means for rotating said plates about an 13 the blank as it moves from the machine being curved away from the folding direction to permit said blank to move into registry with the folding plates while the main body of each of the folding plates is still in the path of movement of the blank, said curved portions of the folding plates deflecting the extending side sections of the blank in the direction of folding to permit said blank v ALBERT F. SHIELDS.

14 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,456,249 Moyer May 22, 1923 1,505,178 Wade et al Aug. 19, 1924 1,536,222 Kimball et a1. May 5, 1925 1,644,695 sieg Oct. 11, 1927 1,687,290 Feeley Oct. 9, 1928 1,757,730 McPike May 6, 1930 1,774,113 Swift Aug. 26, 1930 1,982,848 Wood Dec, 4, 1934 2,068,163 Bowerstock Jan. 19, 1937 2,336,507 Shields Dec. 14, 19 3 

